Progressive leaders back Obama’s military strikes on Iraq… for now

posted at 2:01 pm on August 10, 2014 by Noah Rothman

“I don’t think we’re going to solve this problem in weeks,” President Barack Obama told reporters following the start of renewed airstrikes on Iraqi insurgents. “I think this is going to take some time.”

The president spent the majority of his address to the press noting that dramatic political reforms and a new government in Baghdad is the only permanent solution to the present crisis. In the absence of that political solution, however, American airpower must ensure that pro-Western elements in the Kurdish and Shiite areas of Iraq do not fall to the Sunni fundamentalist militia.

“In the absence of an Iraqi government, it is very hard to get a unified effort by Iraqis against ISIL,” Obama said. “We can conduct airstrikes, but ultimately there is not going to be an American military solution to this problem.”

“Top advisors predict a long, very long military campaign,” CBS reporter Major Garrett revealed on Friday. “This is an army, and it takes an army to defeat an army,” U.S. chief of the Office of Security and Cooperation-Iraq, Army Lt. Gen. Mick Bednarek, agreed.

For now, some of the most strident anti-war voices of the Bush-era, many of whom were propelled to office as a result of their opposition to the Iraq War, are behind the airstrikes. But their support is qualified, and the longer this operation continues the more pressure they will face from their constituencies to oppose this latest round of American military operations in Iraq.

“Moreover, nations with the power to act have a responsibility to protect those who cannot protect themselves, and American involvement in Iraq should involve the international community,” Ellison’s statement continued, taking on a skeptical tone.

“If military operations in Iraq continue, the President should seek Congressional authorization for further engagement. Congress has made it clear that the President does not have unlimited authority for military action.”

“If military operations in Iraq continue, the President should seek Congressional authorization for further engagement. Congress has made it clear that the President does not have unlimited authority for military action,” Warren said to reporters. “But like the president I believe that any solution in Iraq is going to be a negotiated solution, not a military solution. We do not want to be pulled into another war in Iraq.”

“Certainly these airstrikes are going to change the mix of what’s going on, so we’ll just have to monitor it literally day by day, hour by hour,” she added in her uninspiring endorsement of airstrikes on ISIS positions.

“The point is there has to be a negotiated solution in Iraq, but we don’t negotiate with terrorists,” Warren said. She said, “This is partially a question of whether the U.S. government negotiates or whether we have the Iraqi government doing these negotiations, and how we help support them as they try to maintain an integrated country, and a country that better represents all of the people who live there.
…
“I am concerned that none of us want to be pulled into a war in Iraq. I think that’s clear across this country, and I feel very strongly about that,” Warren said.

For now, the humanitarian nature of the crisis in Iraq has pacified the reflexively anti-war left. However, some in the grassroots are already grumbling about America’s unilateral role in Iraq.

“Many have been saying that, if this is truly humanitarian, response should be multilateral and not just the U.S. responding unilaterally,” one progressive organizer who protested the potential for new strikes in Iraq in June told BuzzFeed. “If it’s genocide, it’s a global responsibility to act, not just a U.S. one.”

These progressives’ patience will be tested as American military action in Iraq continues.

A political time bomb has been set by President Obama’s decision to reengage militarily in Iraq. There is no telling when it will go off, but every progressive politician – including the president – has signaled their awareness of the fact that this operation has the political potential to disrupt the Democratic coalition.

The operational calculation is, however, entirely different. American officials, military personnel, administration officials and the president himself have also noted that this mission cannot be a short one. If a strategic objective is to be achieved, American airstrikes in coordination with allies on the ground will have to continue for some time.

So, what happens when America’s political goals and strategic objectives in Iraq are in direct conflict with one another? This condition swamped the Republican Party in the last decade. While Democrats benefited greatly the last time this dynamic dominated the American political scene, it spells trouble for the party this time around.

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Downing Street: Escalating humanitarian crisis in Iraq is ‘deeply worrying’
RAF has carried out first air drop over Mount Sinjar, with more planned
More advisers to work to unite all Iraqi communities ‘against evil terrorists’
Cameron spoke to Obama last night, but remains on his holiday in PortugalLord Dannatt warns Iraq stands on the brink of genocide and disintegration
Former army chief: ‘This is not moment for decision-makers to be on holiday’

Meanwhile, the President of the United States is enjoying his vacation on Martha’s Vineyard, playing golf and dining out.

Members of Yazidi minority have been stranded on Mount Sinjar since they fled IS attacks on their homes a week ago
Iraq’s human rights minister said Sunni militants had buried alive some of their victims, including women and children
Kurdish forces hit back, reclaiming the militant-held towns of Makhmour and al-Gweir around 30 miles from Irbil
Obama gave no timetable for the first U.S. operation in Iraq since the last American troops withdrew three years ago
He has put the onus on Iraqi politicians to form an inclusive government and turn the tide on jihadist expansion
British military aircraft made first airdrop of humanitarian aid overnight after two Hercules cargo planes left yesterday

According to Matthew Barber, an academic who is in northern Iraq, families are being given an ultimatum by the fanatics – to convert to Islam or die.

The families are in three villages – Hatimiya, Tel Kucho and Tel Qasab – which have now fallen under the control of the Islamic State.

He tweeted: ‘Hearing multiple accounts of a convert-or-die ultimatum’ followed by ‘Yazidis may die in the morning if resisting conversion’.

“Many have been saying that, if this is truly humanitarian, response should be multilateral and not just the U.S. responding unilaterally,” one progressive organizer who protested the potential for new strikes in Iraq in June told BuzzFeed. “If it’s genocide, it’s a global responsibility to act, not just a U.S. one.”

You have to love liberals. When we had a coalition, it wasn’t big enough. When we act alone, it isn’t big enough.

Malay language magazine released by jihadist group ISIS
Publication is handed out at mosques and locals are being contacted on social media
Promises to explain ISIS to readers and dispel rumours circulating about the terrorist group
Similar to Inspire magazine circulated by extremist group al-Qaeda

A cleric read the verdict before the truck came and dumped a large pile of stones near the municipal garden. Jihadi fighters then brought in the woman, clad head to toe in black, and put her in a small hole in the ground. When residents gathered, the fighters told them to carry out the sentence: Stoning to death for the alleged adulteress. None in the crowd stepped forward, said a witness to the event in a northern Syrian city. So the jihadi fighters, mostly foreign extremists, did it themselves, pelting Faddah Ahmad with stones until her body was dragged away.

President said the speed of the Islamic State advance was surprising, and there is no quick fix for the problem
But was definitive that U.S. would not be dragged back into ground confrontations in the country
U.S. military sources revealed that more strikes had been made against IS mortars and convoys

I think everyone needs to understand that the US military even under the current WH Marxist is still perfectly capable of stopping ISIS and completely decimating them in short order. Problem is the WH Marxist and his cohorts helped create and start this and they are more than willing to see it continue. So get use to life in the new Socialist USA because it is only going to get worse here also.

“Like many Americans, I am wary of mission creep and the possibility of being further embroiled in a situation that has no military solution; any American military intervention in Iraq should be limited in scope and duration,” a statement from Rep. Keith Ellison,

Really? Now it is OK to go into Iraq and save the lives of those being killed? But it says this on your website:

Rep. Ellison opposed the U.S.’s entrance into the Iraq War and has called for the end to the war in Afghanistan.

So he opposes it when W was in office, but is fine with it now that Obozo is calling the shots. I guess they weren’t the right people being killed. This must be the ‘right’ war.

Refugees poured out of border town Arsal, heading back to war-torn home
Follows incursions by Islamic forces into Lebanon over the past week
Troops took Arsal, but were forced back by Lebanese army on Thursday

“Many have been saying that, if this is truly humanitarian, response should be multilateral and not just the U.S. responding unilaterally,” one progressive organizer who protested the potential for new strikes in Iraq in June told BuzzFeed. “If it’s genocide, it’s a global responsibility to act, not just a U.S. one.”

We never should have pulled out entirely. Because of that we have this genocide. It’s obama’s fault that we are at this point.
We never should have pulled out entirely. Because of that we have this genocide. It’s obama’s fault that we are at this point.
We never should have pulled out entirely. Because of that we have this genocide. It’s obama’s fault that we are at this point.
We never should have pulled out entirely. Because of that we have this genocide. It’s obama’s fault that we are at this point.
We never should have pulled out entirely. Because of that we have this genocide. It’s obama’s fault that we are at this point.
We never should have pulled out entirely. Because of that we have this genocide. It’s obama’s fault that we are at this point.
We never should have pulled out entirely. Because of that we have this genocide. It’s obama’s fault that we are at this point.
We never should have pulled out entirely. Because of that we have this genocide. It’s obama’s fault that we are at this point.

“The point is there has to be a negotiated solution in Iraq, but we don’t negotiate with terrorists,” Warren said. She said, “This is partially a question of whether the U.S. government negotiates or whether we have the Iraqi government doing these negotiations, and how we help support them as they try to maintain an integrated country, and a country that better represents all of the people who live there.

It’s axiomatic that all revolutionary movements have an outside sponsoring power. I suspect with ISIS that it’s part of the Saudi family and the Emirates. So, we really have to identify those responsible and deal with them, perhaps harshly.

On the other hand, I personally don’t mind Sunnis fighting Shiites. Whomever wins the prelims, gets to take on the civilized nations.

It’s axiomatic that all revolutionary movements have an outside sponsoring power. I suspect with ISIS that it’s part of the Saudi family and the Emirates. So, we really have to identify those responsible and deal with them, perhaps harshly.

On the other hand, I personally don’t mind Sunnis fighting Shiites. Whomever wins the prelims, gets to take on the civilized nations.

Special Forces Grunt on August 10, 2014 at 2:34 PM

I suspect it is the WH Marxist and his regime funneling several billion US dollars to help fund them.

No surprise here. I remember when NOW gave their full support to the rapist in chief, Billy Jeff Clinton. It is all about making the perfect totalitarian top down fascist society and nothing else. No matter what they say or do, it is all about furthering fascist state control.

When THIS is the face of our State Department, you know that Obama is either insane or he is orchestrating this entire endeavor

And don’t get me started on the immigrant “children” Is this the “face” of Obama’s new national Army?

“A New Domestic Army… that’s just as Powerful, just as Strong, just as Well Funded as our U.S. Military

/Be Prepared

Key West Reader on August 10, 2014 at 2:34 PM

I suspect you are right on all accounts. I’ve said before that the invasion on our southern border coupled with the government buying millions and millions of rounds of ammo and stockpiling weapons of all kinds for departments other than defense has a sinister end to it.

The horrific irony of the U.S. military blowing up U.S. military armaments being used by human vultures to advance their campaign of mass murder, rape and conquest is gut wrenching. Apparently the deluded American Kumbaya left doesn’t get it, or merely doesn’t give a damn who kills innocents so long as the U.S. doesn’t kill any bad guys.

At least we didn’t supply the swords they are using to behead children. That might upset even the moonbeam and daffodils crowd.

I’ve said before that the invasion on our southern border coupled with the government buying millions and millions of rounds of ammo and stockpiling weapons of all kinds for departments other than defense has a sinister end to it.

bgibbs1000 on August 10, 2014 at 2:45 PM

You realize how many weapons and ammo the general public has. It’s an obaME! fantasy to think it will come to that.

The One is going for a Vietnam-style denouement’ in Iraq, and hoping for one in AFPAK. His dream includes the humiliation of the American military and the mass killing of anyone and everyone he defines as inimical to the True Faith. Not Islam, but Eastern “enlightened” mysticism, of which Islam is just the “militant wing”, so to speak.

The rest of the left don’t want to be blamed for what’s going to happen, of which crucifixions, mass murders, rapes and tortures, etc., are just the warmup. So their “strategy” is to let The One make a few token airstrikes, then throw up their hands and say “nothing can be done”.

Then go home, and watch satellite TV of mass killing, while drinking champagne and celebrating the “Triumph of True Enlightenment”.

Yes. They are enjoying this. They just don’t want anyone but The Faithful to realize they are.

The endgame is an ISIS-controlled MidEast, hopefully not including any state called “Israel”. They want a “Palestine People’s State of the Masses” there.

At the rate they’re going, it may look like that before The One is scheduled to leave office.

Keep in mind that like Sutekh, their philosophy is “your evil is my good”.

If Obama is waiting for the inclusive unified Iraqi government he will be waiting forever. Same thing with waiting for the “moderate” to fight back. Moderation, as a cause, does not win wars.

Look the simple, and best solution, for America is to recognize and back a free Kurdistan and to help the Christians and other religious minorities to escape into Kurdistan where they can either stay or be given asylum in the west. Also we can use the opportunity to bloody ISIS if we choose to do so.

Those are achievable military and political goals. Anything outside that is a debacle waiting to happen. Watching Ben Cardin and Lindsay Graham argue on Fox News was a example of dumb and dumber…it worries me how stupid our leaders are.

Lindsey still thinks arming the FSA is cool and Cardin still is waiting for Iraq to reunite. Both basically think there is some ground swell of moderate Sunni Arab muslims just waiting to be freed from ISIS oppression. It is madness.

You realize how many weapons and ammo the general public has. It’s an obaME! fantasy to think it will come to that.

VegasRick on August 10, 2014 at 2:51 PM

Yes I know that. But what I don’t know and neither do you is how many will fight and on which side they will fight. While there are a lot of gun owners and ammo out there among the civilian population I’m not convinced enough would lay their lives on the line either. However I’m very concerned it may not be long before we find out.

We have to stop separating ISIS from the Sunni Arab populations in Iraq and Syria. They are now basically one and the same.

In WWII we did not go around trying to differentiate the Germans from the Nazis when we bombed German cities, etc.

Frankly we should take out every pickup truck / suv seen moving in the ISIS controlled areas. This worrying over civilian casualties nonsense has to end. Many people who have stayed in ISIS controlled regions are there because they want to be there….ISIS is traditional Sunni Islam.

Frankly we should take out every pickup truck / suv seen moving in the ISIS controlled areas. This worrying over civilian casualties nonsense has to end. Many people who have stayed in ISIS controlled regions are there because they want to be there….ISIS is traditional Sunni Islam.

Sadly, the media has his back. They will “inform” the people that this is unavoidable and stop the pendulum from swinging too far back to the right. The education from DC, NY and LA is keeping us progressively crippled.

“The world hasn’t seen this kind of atrocity in generations,” Arabo told CNN. The terrorists who have invaded Mosul and other ancient Christian communities in Syria and Iraq have made music videos of themselves murdering civilians and captured soldiers.

All you see are the same warmed-over epithets from ‘Nam recycled for ’03 (“chickenhawk”, etc.), the neocons’ and Boosh’s fault, the usual cries of racism, and accusations about lack of patriotism, which I thought was the highest form of dissent, or something.

If we stayed engaged in Iraq, we could have made a difference in the thousands of people who have died so far, and the women who have been dragged off into slavery and genital mutilation.

And weedisgood, quit saying we shouldn’t be here!!! So f!uckin@ what??

We’re in Iraq not in spite of Obama’s actions but BECAUSE OF IT. The think you keep saying we should be avoiding we can’t.

And as far as getting out of a hostile area, it’s 70 years since the end of World War II and we’re still there! Why aren’t you complaining about that? Did Reagan talk about if it wasn’t for Roosevelt we wouldn’t have problems in Europe?

Obama has given us a glimpse at what Liberals have always dreamed of, a disengaged United States. We’ve now seen what happens; we’re forced back in. We can either engage the world and represent our best interests, or be swept along, with no control over events. Think it over.

The Left’s ideological folly brought on this carnage and chaos and Obama and his gang permitted the obvious, predictable, and demonic rise of ISIS (ISIL/Regular Old Islam/or whatever disguise the basic Koranic dogmas are couched in by a studioulsy ignorant media and the complicit-in-genocide political scum in power).

Now the majority of the American people- who see the spread of militant Islam as a global pestilence- will have to clean up the delusional, utopian mess- from Libya to the Ukraine- spawned by the Progressive cretinocracy.

Opening the borders during a deadly War of attrition, deposing despots who stabilized the Islamic crazies in their regions, and the Left’s generally gelded manner in responding to a metastasizing mix of threats, proves the core imbecility of the fantasy-based belief structure of these Globalist Idealists.

From Barack to Hillary, Biden to Jarrett, Kerry to Warren, the heads of this monumentally unrealistic movement… essentially aiming to dissolve America into amorphous anarchy… are culpable for the deaths of hundreds of thousands who needn’t have been slaughtered by spreading imperialistic Islamic hordes.

All of the historical destruction- like the obliteration of Jonah’s tomb- is on their slimy hands as well.

What we are witnessing is the consequence of denying deadly reality in order to consolidate power.

I believe “The Other Side” are beginning to speak up about bam’s negatives. If things keep going the way they are going in the ME, they cannot ignore it. The door has cracked open, there’s no way they can spin this and slam the door shut.
However, should things turn around miraculously in the ME, we’ll know how they’ll spin it back in their favor.

any American military intervention in Iraq should be limited in scope and duration,” a statement from Rep. Keith Ellison, the co-chair of the House Progressive Caucus and the nation’s first Muslim-American elected to Congress

This follower of Mohammad would be fine with his fellow Mohammad followers of ISIS brutally murdering all Christian in Iraq and anywhere else. May he get Ebola.

BTW, Progressive? There is nothing more regressive than being a follower of Mohammad, the Monster Who Walked The Earth.

“If military operations in Iraq continue, the President should seek Congressional authorization for further engagement. Congress has made it clear that the President does not have unlimited authority for military action,” Warren said to reporters.

Like many Americans, I am wary of mission creep and the possibility of being further embroiled in a situation that has no military solution; any American military intervention in Iraq should be limited in scope and duration,” a statement from Rep. Keith Ellison,

What do you mean no military solution you Islamo-fascist? It’s called VICTORY. Total capitulation by ISIS. BAMN. You know what that means.

These people are NOT ANTI WAR. They are anti American. See Fidel Castro, Mao tse Tung, Ho Chi Minh,
the PLO, the Sandinista, Hammas, wars of national liberation; I’m too bored to continue the list which is endless anyway. When will people like Noah Rothman acknowledge this? To be ” anti war” is benign; not to mention that it implies the rest of us who actually stop wars are pro war. Call a spade a spade!! (Obviously I’m a racist as well as a war monger)

The idiocy and dishonesty of the kook left is always on display, but is in perfect relief now.

The queers voted 100% for dog eater in 2008, when he was still running his “I’m a black Christian opposed to gay marriage” gag with Uncle Nutty. Then they voted for him in 2012 because “the other guy is opposed to gay marriage” or something.

The No Blood for Oil! doofs voted 100% for O’Bozo in every election and we’ve been laughing at them ever since, while he kills civilians with Hellfire missiles off drones and invades sovereign countries…or leaves them in the hands of murderous Muslims, depending on how his golf game went that day. They have supported every 180 flip flop and claimed that every logical hair pin turn made perfect sense to them.

PMSNBC and their dopey watchers should all be required to call him Dear Leader.

Oh what a disgrace if such a despised and base cult, which worships a misogynist pedophile demon, aided and abetted by their and evil’s ally should be allowed to brutally murder and mutilate and torture and rape and subjugate Christian men, women and children! With what reproaches will the Lord overwhelm us if we do not promptly and fully stand with Christians who are being murdered and defiled by Muslims for their Christian faith! Let those who have been accustomed unjustly to wage private warfare against other of the faithful now all unite and go against the Mohammedans in a Holy Crusade and end with total victory this war against monstrous evil which should have been completed long ago.

Let those who for too long a time have been dhimmis, now become knights. Let those who have been fighting in service of Mohammedans against their own brothers and sisters now fight in a proper way against all the followers and allies and enablers of the misogynist pedophile demon. Let those who have been wearing themselves out in both body and soul in vain attempt to win the small minds and dark hearts of the Mohammedans now redeem themselves and labor for glorious honor against them.

Behold! On the one side will be the completely destroyed Mohammedans and their allies and servants, on the other the fierce and righteous protectors of humanity. On the one side will be the destroyed enemies of the Lord, on the other, his friends who will shout at the Mohammedans and their Christian hating misanthrope allies as they destroy them all, “Christus vincit! Christus vincit! Christus vincit! Deus vult! Deus vult! Deus vult!”

“The point is there has to be a negotiated solution in Iraq, but we don’t negotiate with terrorists,” Warren said. She said, “This is partially a question of whether the U.S. government negotiates or whether we have the Iraqi government doing these negotiations…….

Warren, like other starry-eyed, unicorn chasing, leftist, idiotic idealists, does not comprehend that ISIS has no intention or desire of negotiating. They only seek the conversion or deaths of those not like themselves. There is no middle ground for them.
In any case, it would be morally repugnant for the US to engage in negotiations with ISIS, considering the barbarous and inhumane actions perpetrated by the ISIS minions.
Our only engagement with ISIS should be kinetic, ferocious, and unrelenting.

ISIS in Iraq now is nothing new. It is just one of almost countless occurrences of Muslims acting like Muslims, of Islam being Islam. History is replete with even far worse examples and as long as Islam exists it will never end.

“I don’t think we’re going to solve this problem in weeks,” President Barack Obama told reporters following the start of renewed airstrikes on Iraqi insurgents. “I think this is going to take some time.”

Only a progressive nimrod, but I repeat myself, speaks like this. This is not an essay question for a grade. He is the problem. We have no strategy, no moral clarity, no sense of nationhood and so instead of vigilance, strength and resilience, we have a problem solver in chief. Seriously, this is the perfection of the progressive mind—vapid, ignorant, virtueless and gutless.

“Progressives” are the worst assortment of hypocrites, phones, anti-Americans, and race hustlers. Consulting this motley crew of Marxists on military policy is like consulting Michael Moore on a fitness regime

It’s always one crisis after another isn’t it. You know never let a good crisis go to waste. And it’s the same in both parties. Truth is those in the halls of power in DC don’t want any crisis solved quickly if at all although most of know they can be. ISIS could be defeated by week’s end so could the border problem but oh no the politicians can’t perpetuate political power doing that now can they. Of course these two problems are a little more sinister in nature in that our Marxist government has created both to further grow itself.

“I don’t think we’re going to solve this problem in weeks,” President Barack Obama told reporters following the start of renewed airstrikes on Iraqi insurgents. “I think this is going to take some time.”

Only a progressive nimrod, but I repeat myself, speaks like this. This is not an essay question for a grade. He is the problem. We have no strategy, no moral clarity, no sense of nationhood and so instead of vigilance, strength and resilience, we have a problem solver in chief. Seriously, this is the perfection of the progressive mind—vapid, ignorant, virtueless and gutless.

cthemfly on August 10, 2014 at 4:57 PM

Scott Johnson @ Power Line nails O’bama:

Obama’s dishonesty is blatant and habitual. It seems to me to reflect a bad character allied with great confidence that he can get away with it.

These people are NOT ANTI WAR. They are anti American. See Fidel Castro, Mao tse Tung, Ho Chi Minh,
the PLO, the Sandinista, Hammas, wars of national liberation; I’m too bored to continue the list which is endless anyway. When will people like Noah Rothman acknowledge this? To be ” anti war” is benign; not to mention that it implies the rest of us who actually stop wars are pro war. Call a spade a spade!! (Obviously I’m a racist as well as a war monger)

douglucy on August 10, 2014 at 3:56 PM

These people have been anti-america in every war from V-J Day on.

The only reason they supported us in WWII was that it was also the War To Save Communism after Barbarossa.

(before it, they wanted FDR to declare war on Britain because it was fighting Uncle Joe’s pal (Godwin Alert))

“Many have been saying that, if this is truly humanitarian, response should be multilateral and not just the U.S. responding unilaterally,” one progressive organizer who protested the potential for new strikes in Iraq in June told BuzzFeed. “If it’s genocide, it’s a global responsibility to act, not just a U.S. one.”

This “progressive” obviously doesn’t believe it’s a humanitarian issue. He should be over in the Middle East organizing and agitating for multilateral help.

The bad thing is that the US won’t take a week to blow the heck out of these people instead of nit-picking here and there and prolonging the conflict.

Yes I know that. But what I don’t know and neither do you is how many will fight and on which side they will fight. While there are a lot of gun owners and ammo out there among the civilian population I’m not convinced enough would lay their lives on the line either. However I’m very concerned it may not be long before we find out.

bgibbs1000 on August 10, 2014 at 2:58 PM

You would think that when gun-owners start to see that if they don’t stand up, I mean really stand up to tyranny or be enslaved, they(we) will transition to the sobering mindset that liberty really is worth the cost of laying down lives.